The F. A. Cup First Erst Round:
Walsall v. Exeter City

CITY OUT OF THE CUP: BEATEN IN LAST FIVE MINUTES AT WALSALL

A Thrilling Match From Start To Finish: Exeter Unlucky

Saturday, November 30th 1929.

WALSALL (GROVES) 1
EXETER CITY 0.

Walsall:- Biddlestone; F.Walters and Houldey; Muldoon, Helliewell (captain), and Bradford; Groves, Roe, A.V.Walters, Eyres, and Barnes.
Exeter City:- Alderson; Baugh and Shanks; Clarke, Ditchburn (captain), and Dennington; Purcell, Houghton, Guyan, Hemingway, and Doncaster.
Referee:- Mr R.J.Kirby.

There will be no Cup Glory for the Grecians this season; no Blackburn or Leeds to bring their First Division stars to St James's Park, for Exeter are out of the competition after playing one match. The game all the way through was unscientific but tremendously exciting, and it was very hard luck on the City that they should have been so near to a replay, at least, and then beaten. With five minutes left Barnes received a long crossfield pass from one of his half-backs and a clear field in front of him. He evaded Baugh's tackle and centred high and hard to Groves, on the other side of the penalty area. Groves met the ball as it came over, trapped it neatly and drove into the net from about five yards. Alderson had not an earthly chance of saving. Exeter's backs played brilliantly, and Alderson came through the game with flying colours. The failure of Clarke to cover Barnes led to Walsall's goal being scored, for Barnes was unmarked when he received the pass, and Baugh was the only player between him and the goal-line. Doncaster played his best football of the season, but the forward line as a whole made the mistake of keeping the ball too close on the heavy ground. The attendance was 7,989, with gate receipts of £437.

Southern League
EBBW VALE 1
EXETER CITY RESERVES 1.

Southern League match. The Vale opened strongly and Holland had to fist over the bar a shot from Davis (centre-forward). Corrigan at the other end fired high over the Vale bar. At length McDevitt fed Armfield, who broke away at speed and scored with a ground shot to the far corner of the net. In the second half Ebbw Vale had most of the play and Davis from a free kick well placed by Daniels gained possession and equalised the scores. The Exeter City team was:- Holland; Howson, and Noble; Sheffield, Mason, and Gurkin; Armfield, McDevitt, Baldwin, Henderson, and Corrigan.

Exeter Schools v Plymouth Schools 

• In the absence of both the City teams, Exeter Schools (red and white stripes) played Plymouth Schools (green and black) at St James's Park. With colours such as these there was a "Western Derby" flavour about the match, which was won by Exeter Schools 3 goals to 1.